Kerala local body polls: SEC enlists ways to search names on voters' list following EPIC number removal

Thiruvananthapuram: The State Election Commission (SEC) has announced that the voters' list for the upcoming local body elections in Kerala can be searched in three ways: State, Local Body, and Ward. Voters can check whether their names appear in the list by using the Voter Search option on the SEC website: www.sec.kerala.gov.in.

The move follows allegations that the removal of EPIC numbers (Electoral Photo Identity Card numbers) from the voters' list by the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the final revision stage could lead to duplicate voting. Previous checks, including a survey conducted by the Congress under its ‘Mission 2025’, found multiple cases of the same individual being listed as a voter in several wards or booths using a single EPIC number, particularly in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

During this period, services on the SEC portal were temporarily suspended. When the portal resumed, all EPIC numbers were removed without prior notice, and each voter was assigned a unique SEC ID. The new ID begins with the letters ‘SEC’, followed by nine digits. According to State Election Commissioner A Shahjahan, the unique ID ensures uniformity and accuracy, and it will be issued to every new elector added to the voters’ list—marking the first time Kerala introduces such a system. Despite the portal displaying a search bar for EPIC numbers, the service had been unavailable for a time, prompting criticism from opposition parties about transparency in the voter verification process.

How to check name on voters' list: 
Voters can search the list using their name and either:
- Voter ID card number (EPIC) – old or new, as provided during registration
- Old SEC ID or new SEC number issued by the State Election Commission

Steps to Search:
Go to Voter Services on the SEC website. You will see three options:
- Search Voter Statewise
- Search Voter Localbodywise
- Search Voter Wardwise

State-level search: Click Search Voter Statewise. Choose either Search by EPIC / Old SEC ID or Search by New SEC ID. Enter the required number to locate your name.
Local body search: Click Search Voter Localbodywise. Enter the district, local body, and either the voter’s name, EPIC number, or old/new SEC number.
Ward-level search: Click Search Voter Wardwise and provide the voter’s name and ID details as registered.

Searches will only work if the information is entered exactly as registered. If there is a complaint regarding duplicate votes, it can be reported to the concerned Electoral Registration Officer. Kerala local body polls: